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Gig review: Wheatus at Rescue Rooms

Though they are no strangers to Nottingham, Wheatus delivered a highly nostalgic, energetic, and interactive midweek show at Rescue Rooms as if it was their first time. They maintain a distinctive, affectionate relationship with Nottingham, even adopting referring to the crowd as “Notts”, which is a small but strikingly sincere touch. Supported by Thomas Nicholas Band, of the American Pie franchise fame, with covers aplenty, we went along to hear for ourselves...

In photos: Seb Lowe at Rescue Rooms

Night Creatures Podcast #4: Nate Coltrane from Mimm on 14 years of parties, Nottingham Street Food Club and Our Yard

Night Creatures is a LeftLion podcast, shining a light on the promoters of Nottingham. Your host and interviewer is Beane, co-founder of Nottingham’s beloved Soul Buggin’ night and he brings with him over twenty years of experience of putting on great parties in the city.

In photos: Amy MacDonald at the Royal Concert Hall, with better joy

Gig review: Ice Nine Kills at Motorpoint Arena

It may be Christmas time, but for one Wednesday night in mid-December, the Motorpoint Arena took us firmly back to Halloween season. Paying homage to classic horror movies both old and new, American metal outfit Ice Nine Kills brought their latest arena tour to Nottingham and it was simply one of the most over-the-top, theatrical and madcap shows we’ve ever witnessed. Here’s how the carnage unfolded…

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2025

2025 is almost at an end, but what happened? Here's our potted history of another year of culture and entertainment in Notts…

Gig review: Wolf Alice at Motorpoint Arena

As Wolf Alice have evolved into one of the best and most beloved bands in Britain, Nottingham has been there with them every step of the way. From providing a support slot for Swim Deep at Rescue Rooms well over a decade ago, to giving them their first mosh pit at The Bodega, to playing a midday slot at Dot-to-Dot and then later headlining Rock City, our city has always been a key part of their journey. Now as they complete the UK leg of their first arena tour, it seems fitting that Nottingham is the final stop. Here’s what went down…

Nottingham Adopts The Safe Space Pledge

The Safe Space Pledge is a city-wide commitment to making Nottingham a friendlier, safer place for everyone enjoying the city’s day-time and night-time offerings...

Gig review: The Rasmus at Rock City

It may be close to the end of 2025, but for one night only, The Rasmus transported us back to 2003 for the final night of their Weirdo tour at Rock City,  accompanied by fellow Finnish band Block of Flats and American emo rockers The Funeral Portrait. From within a beautifully mixed crowd of longtime fans, younger listeners and older fans reliving their youth and chasing that sweet feeling of nostalgia, the show was full of energy and enthusiasm, from the bands and fans alike...

Theatre Review: The Little Mermaid at Nottingham Playhouse

This fresh take on The Little Mermaid is capturing hearts and catching imaginations... 

We chat to James Yorkston ahead of his solo Bodega show

James Yorkston is a singer-songwriter, author and prolific collaborator. On the heels of a new album featuring Nina Persson (The Cardigans) and Johanna Soderberg (First Aid Kit) and a TV appearance with Jools Holland, and ahead of a solo show at The Bodega on 14th December, we caught up with James to talk obscure songs, collaborations and gig memories...

Gig review: Stereophonics at Motorpoint Arena

Welsh group Stereophonics are a key component of the British indie rock scene, playing a role in its development since their formation in 1992. Fronted by Kelly Jones, the band's popularity remains high, as a packed out show at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena proved...

Gig review: Alessi Rose at Rock City

Alessi Rose is becoming a more and more familiar name in the pop landscape. On the tail end of a year that’s included tours with Dua Lipa, she leans wholesale into the trend toward hyper-authenticity in pop, condensing thoughts of love and loss, of joy and mundanity, of disappointment and optimism into finely honed, irresistibly catchy tunes. Rock City played host to her Nottingham tour date...

How the Nottingham community is supporting Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

Since hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica and Cuba in October, the Nottingham community has been working hard to raise money and gather aid. Sharon Stevens spoke to some of the organisers in Nottingham to find out how people have been helping and what can be done next...

Gig review: Don Broco at Motorpoint Arena

With stellar support from Magnolia Park, YONAKA and State Champs, a headline Nottingham Arena show from Don Broco saw a cathartic reminiscence of where they've been - and where they're heading next...

Gig review: Deafheaven at The Palais

Deafheaven are a band with multiple two sides, having roots in shoegaze as well as bringing in elements of darker, heavier to their developing musical catalogue. As we headed down to The Palais on a dark Sunday evening, we were excited to find out which side we would see...

Gig review: Everything Everything at Rock City

It’s safe to say, Mancunian art-rockers Everything Everything love playing in Nottingham. In fact, since the start of 2024 alone, the band had already played our city four times, including earlier this year with The Wombats at Motorpoint Arena. However, this fifth visit to Nottingham in under two years was for a very special occasion – a 10th Anniversary celebration of their beloved third album Get To Heaven. We went along to join the party at Rock City on a cold, wet Monday night…

Theatre Review: Sleeping Beauty at Nottingham Playhouse

This year's Playhouse panto brings us a classic tale with modern twists. You may become spellbound but, unlike the princess, you most definitely will not fall asleep... 

Bon journal: writer Andrew Tucker Leavis on launching the New Nottingham Journal

All that Nottingham’s literary scene was missing, said poet Rory Waterman, was a “name-brand literary journal”. Grace Sanders speaks to Andrew Tucker Leavis, Editor-in-Chief of the New Nottingham Journal, about how he decided to rectify that issue, with LeftLion’s help…

Gig review: Home Counties at The Bodega, with My First Time

Home Counties dropped by The Bodega on their tour for their second album, Humdrum, which has been generating some serious excitement for alternative music fans across a range of genres. Joined by new kids on the block My First Time, a funked-up, energy-packed evening was in store for the Pelham Street punters…

In photos: Bored Marsh at The Bodega, with Mandibles

Gig review: Warmduscher at Rescue Rooms

For the third time in as many years, Warmduscher, the epitome of the phrase “chaos but good chaos”, paid Nottingham a visit. And, of course, LeftLion got in on the action...

We speak to Unite Nottingham about proposed reforms on disability rights

Jo Kingsley sat down with Leigh Woosey of Unite Community Nottingham to talk about the proposed reforms on disability rights and their potential impact on the people of Nottingham...

We chat to Wheatus about dream collabs, favourite guitars and rumours of a covers album

Wheatus are an American alt-rock powerhouse, the unit behind one of the biggest songs of the early 2000s, Teenage Dirtbag. They never stop, with the band now celebrating the 25th anniversary of the self-titled album. We chatted to frontman Brendan B. Brown about the upcoming tour, the legacy of Teenage Dirtbag, and why he likes Biffy Clyro so much...

Monet and Van Gogh to appear at Nottingham Arena next summer in new immersive experiences

Two immersive experiences which bring the work of iconic artists to life in mesmerising, immersive and moving fashion are set to enchant Nottingham art lovers next summer...